Thirteenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how we used the ethics of care approach in identifying first year social work students’ basic needs insecurity and how we used the collaborative approach to successfully assist students with urgent needs. COVID-19 restrictions added to the students challenges due to lack human interaction and reliance on technology where frustration with trying to make sense of the learning management system was evident. We used a personal information form created for identifying underlying illness and document students’ next of kin. We expanded the form to focus on the following issues: residence during term, home address, financial assistance, access to a device (laptop) and data. We further followed up on students who did not submit the forms. Telephone contacts conducted during office hours and in the evening to establish their needs. Attending to students’ needs on case-by-case basis, drawing together a multidisciplinary team provided a fast resolution of issues and feedback was rapidly available. We conclude that attending to basic needs of the students at the beginning of the academic year supports their success and adjustment. As a caring profession we cannot distance ourselves from providing care, therefore our efforts demonstrate that it is beneficial for the students when move away from the idea that the lecturers are professionals and any personal issues that students get confronted with, should be referred to appropriate support services enhanced by technology.